Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 24

Wendy made me a nutritious breakfast. I was halfway through my meal when Yvonne came bounding in. “Mom, you’re not going to work today,” she declared. “You have to stay home and play with me.”

I looked at her while spooning my gruel. “From now on, I will be going back to work,” I said. “But we’ll sign you up for some fun classes–you’ll have teachers and classmates to keep you company.”

Yvonne’s face paled at the mention of classes. In an instant, she was pointing at me, her voice rising to a wail. “I don’t want classes. You’re mean. I hate you. I’m telling Grandma.” She turned and ran toward the door to find her grandmother.

“Come back,” I commanded, my voice icy. “Go ahead–try telling on me.”

Yvonne’s face was still wet with crocodile tears. She turned to look at me, her eyes wide–almost like she was seeing me for the first time. And for just a second, I caught a flicker of fear.

with a cold stare. “Yvonne, I’m your

if you’d rather have a different mother, go ask your father. I won’t stand in

blinked, getting the message quickly. After a pause, she inched closer, clutching my arm. “Mom, I’m sorry,” she

previous life, she’d still been taking Tracy’s side

that I was my own worst enemy, dragging everyone

it. All I wanted was to raise a child who might

us to offer support rather than impose limitations, to foster happiness instead of hardship, and to permit

for those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, caught between these

soon.” Rubbing my temples, I nudged Yvonne toward

before–love bites scattered down my neck and back. Back then, I would’ve covered every one, too shy

today, I didn’t bother hiding a single one. Why should I? A little passion between spouses